Errol Spence and Leonard Bundu meet in eliminator for Kell Brook's belt
Wednesday 20 July 2016 10:23, UK
Errol Spence Jr will face Leonard Bundu in Brooklyn next month in a final eliminator for Kell Brook's IBF welterweight title.
Undefeated Spence (20-0-KO17) is coming off the biggest win of his professional career when he stopped Chris Algieri in the fifth round at the Barclays Center in April.
Spence Jr is a former Olympian - he was knocked out in the quarter-finals at London 2012 - and is rated as one of America's leading prospects.
But Bundu will provide him with a tough examination, with 'The Lion' having twice come to England to beat Lee Purdy and Frankie Gavin, both wins coming before his only loss against Keith Thurman when he challenged for the interim WBA welterweight title in late 2014.
The August 21 bout will take place at the Ford Amphitheater on the iconic Coney Island Boardwalk in Brooklyn, three weeks before Brook moves up to middleweight to take on the feared Gennady Golovkin in a battle of two undefeated fighters.
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Spence Jr said: "A lot of people will be watching because of the Olympics that may not have known my name before. As an Olympian, headlining a major event four years after my Olympic run is exciting.
"Bundu is an older fighter, but he's tough and has a lot of experience. He fought well against Keith Thurman. Thurman outboxed him but couldn't knock him out. I think I can make a big statement in the division if I can stop him, as I did with Chris Algieri.
But Italy-based Bundu (33-1-2-KO12) feels his worldwide experience will be of benefit when he faces the 26-year-old Spence, who has only made it as far as Canada for a fight since turning pro.
"I am going to use my experience to my advantage on August 21," said Bundu. "When I fought Thurman I ended up being overcautious, but that will not be the case this time.
"I know it's now or never for me and I won't let this chance slip away. Spence will come forward but that will work to my advantage because I love fighting on the inside. I'm going to show Spence a few things that he hasn't seen before."
